Garibaldi Provincial Park

Cheakamus Lake Area

Access:
Turn right off Hwy 99, 48 km north of Squamish or 2.5 km south of Whistler at Function Junction. The logging road to the trailhead is on the left-hand side after 500 metres. It is 7.5 km from the highway to the parking lot.

Trail Information:

Parking lot to Cheakamus Lake: Length, 3 km; suggested time, 45 minutes to 1 hour, one way; elevation change, minimal. An easy, pleasant trail that winds through old growth forest. It is possible to portage a kayak or canoe on this trail.

Cheakamus Lake to Black Tusk Meadows via Helm Creek: Length, 14.5 km; suggested time, 6 to 7 hours one way; elevation change, 600 metres. Located 1.5 km along the Cheakamus Lake trail, the trail drops down to a bridge across the Cheakamus River. On the other side of the river the trail switchbacks upward, following Helm Creek past the Helm Creek campground, through the Cinder Flats, to the Upper Lakes and the meadows.

Cheakamus Lake parking lot to Garibaldi Lake parking lot via Helm Creek: Length, 25 km; recommended as a two day trip; elevation change, 1,000 metres. Located 1.5km along the Cheakamus Lake trail, the trail drops down to a bridge across the Cheakamus River. On the other side of the river, the trail switchbacks upward, following Helm Creek to the Helm Creek camping area at 8.5 km. Continue through the Cinder Flats and Black Tusk meadows to Taylor Meadows and onto the Garibaldi Lake parking lot. Side trips can be made to the Black Tusk, Panorama Ridge or Garibaldi Lake.

Items of importance:

Mountain biking is permitted on the trail as far as the Cheakamus Lake campsites but may not be taken across the Cheakamus River Bridge on the Helm Creek trail.

The Cheakamus Lake area experiences increased black bear activity in the spring season. Please use caution while travelling through the area and respect their environment. Stay on the trail and never approach or feed the wildlife. Remember, “A fed bear is a dead bear” Click here for BC Parks - Bear Safety page.